Our Daily Ocean: Day 249

Friday evening we volunteered once again for NC Audubon watching after the protected shore bird nesting area.  We've been fortunate during our volunteer time to not have any problems and get to spend our time watching the birds as they nest and take care of their babies.  Now that the dredging and beach renourishment equipment has been removed from the beach (woohoo!), we decided to walk from 44 to 43 to check the posting area and make sure no one was disturbing the protected area.  All was well and there was minimal litter to pick up.  Though we did find a plastic bag that was inside the protected nesting area, but thankfully it was just within reach!

 I've been reading a lot lately.  Mostly novels, but I recently picked up Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.  While not from that book, this quote from Edge of the Sea (1955) by Rachel Carson is one of my absolute favorites....

  "To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be." 

 June 13, 2014 at Access 44/43
Litter by weight: 10.4 oz
Cigarette butts: 3

Total cigarette butts removed: 57,960

Our Daily Ocean: Day 247

It's simple.  Whatever we do (or don't do) impacts the world we live in. 

We're volunteering with Audubon NC as Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards!  It's a great reason to be at the beach and while we're there, I'm able to do a quick 20 minute beach clean up.  Watching the birds has given my kids a renewed perspective on helping cleanup the beach-- to protect the birds!  This week we got to see 2 oyster catcher chicks!

There are also lots and lots of Black Skimmers that are currently nesting on Wrightsville Beach.  I LOVE watching them skim along the surface of the water.  (ok, I also love just watching them sit on their nests).  Want to see more pictures of the nesting shorebirds at Wrightsville Beach?  Check out the WB Bird Stewards blog!

May 29, 2014 at Access 43/44
Litter by weight: 14.9 oz
Cigarette butts: 23

Total cigarette butts removed: 57,955

Our Daily Ocean: Day 243

"A common misconception about people who are passionate about their values is that they expect everyone to live like them. In actuality, many of the most passionate driven people I know, are also some of the most open minded." 

 ~Alex Eaves, STAY VOCAL

Leave the criticisms and judgements behind.  Be an encourager.

May 9, 2014 at Access 43/44
Litter by weight: 1 lb 10 oz
Cigarette butts: 19

Total cigarette butts removed: 57,873

Our Daily Ocean: Day 241

It has been almost exactly a month since I did my last beach clean up.  The cause?  My family and I went on a nearly 3 week camping/roadtrip throughout southwest US!  It was really really amazing... awe inspiring.  But, only having been home since Sunday... I've been taking my time and comfortably easing back into our every day routine.  Slowly but surely, I'll get back to doing more consistent beach cleanups!

Now a lot has changed since we were last at Wrightsville Beach back in March.  Today, when we walked up to Access 43, we could see dredging equipment stationed off the beach and orange plastic fencing in sections that's usually roped off for nesting shore birds. (sigh)  And from reading the Lumina News, it seems like Wrightsville Beach is going to have all the equipment for this renourishment project until the end of May!!!

While we were at the beach, I just couldn't stop thinking about the sea turtles that nest at WB.  How are they supposed to get over that huge pipe and lay their eggs??  I really don't see it happening.  I then started thinking about the nesting shore birds.  My kids and I love coming to the south end of WB during shore bird nesting season to see a greater than normal amount of birds soaring above us and listening to the sounds they make as they come together like a symphony.  I wonder how the birds will be impacted by the dredging activity right next to their nesting area?

Now, I don't know much about the renourishment process... yes, WB wasn't looking good on the sand front.... but it seems like this just isn't the right time of year for this all to be happening.  I'd like to make a suggestion that if you're concerned about the timing of this project, to take a moment and write a personal letter to the Army Corps of Engineers.  Your letter may not impact this particular renourishment project, but it could help in better planning for future projects.

Direct thoughtful, positive and polite letters to:
Colonel Steven A. Baker
Wilmington District
US Army Corps of Engineers 
69 Darlington Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403


20 minutes on April 24, 2014 at Access 43
Litter by weight: 1 lb 1.8 oz
Cigarette butts: 11

Total cigarette butts removed: 57,848

Our Daily Ocean: Day 234

This afternoon, my youngest and I walked all around access 43 wrapping around to where Banks Channel and Shinn Creek meet.  There on the shore of Banks Channel, we stopped to watch a pod of dolphins until they disappeared from sight.  A beautiful reminder of one of the many reasons we do our best to help protect our oceans and beaches.

  My youngest was just 4 years old when I started this project and this July he'll turn 8.  He's grown up so much... and over these past years has been part of creating a major MAJOR change in our community.  And while he may not know how big of a role he played, he is seeing first hand the difference that has been made.

He remembers when picking up littered cigarette butts on the beach was never ending.... when we would just sit down and pick up hundreds.  I remember it all too well, but there is no better jog of the memory than looking back on beach cleanups from years past.  (Reference: February 2011 and February 2012).  With the passing of the Wrightsville Beach smoke-free beach ordinance... those days seem to be behind us.  Sure, there are still people who smoke on the beach, but it seems that they are few and far between.  Case in point, today we only picked up 12.

And while the dolphins serve as a beautiful reminder as to why we do our best to help protect and cleanup our world; the reduction in the amount of cigarette butts we're finding serves as a reminder as to what can happen when we take action because we believe we can make a difference. 

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” 

- Mahatma Gandhi

20 minutes on February 22, 2014 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 2 lbs 2.3 oz

Cigarette butts: 12

Total cigarette butts removed: 57,696

Our Daily Ocean: Day 196

On August 9, 2010... my kids and I went to access 43 to do our very first 20 minute beach cleanup at Wrightsville Beach.  I felt such a strong pull to start this project of documenting, collecting weighing and tallying that as soon as I started... I knew that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

I said to myself: "I am going to help fix the cigarette litter problem on Wrightsville Beach."

That first clean up, we picked up 346 cigarette butts and put them in a plastic jug.

Every year on August 9, I head back to Wrightsville Beach access 43.  I love the feeling of being connected to where this all started.  As much as the beach has been reshaped over the course of this project, so have I.  Without going into the myriad of things that have happened over the past 3 years, let me just say that amazing things happen when you expand your comfort zone.

As this year is the first year of the smoke-free beach ordinance, I was super excited to do my "Anniversary Beach Cleanup".  One of the greatest things about documenting the number of cigarette butts picked up in 20 minutes since 2010 is that I have data to make comparisons.

Different year, same date (August 9), same access (Access 43).

2010: 346
2011: 378
2012: 172
2013: 47

Now one thing that I will never claim to be is a math wiz... but thanks to my googling abilities, I'm able to figure out that comparing 2010's cleanup to 2013 that's a decrease of 86%.  Or comparing more recently 2012 to 2013 (both years have part of the beach closed for shore-bird nesting), that's a 73% reduction in cigarette litter!!!!  I'm just thrilled.  Absolutely thrilled.

Once upon a time, there was a mom who believed she could make a difference.  And she did... but she didn't do it alone.

  

20 minutes on August 9, 2013 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 13.1 oz

Cigarette butts: 47

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 196 beach cleanups:

55,600

Our Daily Ocean: Day 169

Walking onto the beach on Monday afternoon, I felt a sense of pride wash over me.  I began thinking about the first time I did a The Daily Ocean beach clean up in Santa Monica with Sara and the immediate tugging I felt to make a difference at Wrightsville Beach.

2 years 3 months ago, I stepped onto Wrightsville Beach as just a mom with a plan... with a goal to help make Wrightsville Beach the first smoke-free beach in North Carolina.  I did my first 20 minute beach clean up at Wrightsville Beach picking up 346 cigarette butts.  Since then,  I've picked up more cigarette butts than I ever imagined possible... and I connected to a community of people who were just as passionate about helping WB become smoke-free.  On November 6, my goal became a reality when 65.3% of votes cast by WB residents were FOR a smoke-free beach.  I'm so proud and grateful to have been able to contribute my voice to the Smoke-Free WB community movement!

"One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world."   ~ Barack Obama

Just think about the possibilities for changing the world we live in for the better... let's get together.  Inspire each other, motivate each other to use our talents, actions and our voices together for a common cause.

20 minutes on November 12, 2012 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 3 lbs 2 oz

Cigarette butts: 150

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 169 days: 

53,143

Our Daily Ocean: Day 153

On August 9, my kids and I went back to where it all started at Access 43 just as we did on Our Daily Ocean: Day #1.  It's been 2 years since I walked onto the beach with a mission to help raise awareness about the cigarette litter problem on our local beach and a lot has happened and changed over these past 2 years...

With every step we take on the beach, something has always changed.  When we walked onto the beach on Thursday, we saw something we hadn't seen in the past 2 years.  The entire south end was completely roped off for the nesting beach birds!  It was really a sight to see... birds all over the sand and birds soaring above.  Plus, since there were so many birds (mainly skimmers and seagulls)... being there was a symphony of sounds.

I'm not sure I ever need reminders for why I keep doing what I do... but it's in moments like we had on Thursday that we pause... everything in the world seems perfect... just the way it was and the way it's supposed to be.  And in that moment, of hearing the birds and the waves... and feeling the sand on my feet and the salt air on my skin... I remember why I feel driven to help make the world a better place.

Over the past 2 years, I have had to remind myself that change doesn't always come easy or as fast as we want it to.  But that shouldn't come as a surprise because anything that needs repairing didn't happen overnight.  In order to do anything right (or worthwhile) it takes time, persistence and perseverance.  (nope, I won't give up)

And one thing that I know for sure, if we want to see a change happen in our world... and whatever that change may be... when we come together to make a change.... anything is possible.

20 minutes on August 9, 2012 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 1 lb 3.8 oz
Cigarette butts: 172
Straws: 5

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 153 days:

48,751

Our Daily Ocean: Day 128

There are times when I wish I could explain either through pictures or words more clearly some of the things we find on Wrightsville Beach.... but sometimes, as much as I try... the pictures don't begin to tell the whole story and words seem to come up short.

Through words and pictures, I can only touch on how bad some things really are.  There is nothing like being there and seeing it for yourself-- as my friend Tracy can surely attest.  Yesterday was one of those days when we cleaned a section... looked back... and could see exactly where we missed.  Cigarette butts, bottle caps, fragmented plastics, styrofoam, straws... and.... condoms. humph  There were so many cigarette butts and plastic bottle caps (89) that Tracy started calling the area we were cleaning "cap and butt beach".

As I was going through everything that Tracy and I picked up yesterday... I paused at this Gatorade bottle that Tracy found tucked away in a sand dune.  I looked at the deteriorating cap and thought about all of the ocean samples that have yielded plastics.  I thought about Kamilo Beach.  I thought about the albatross on Midway Island....whales, sea turtles, fish...   *sigh* Looking at the cap, I knew that pieces of plastic so small had broken off and are now part of our sand at Wrightsville Beach...

Here is a plain and simple fact:  If we don't change how we use plastic... One day our beaches will be made of plastic sand.  It's already happening.  We now have the task of stopping it from happening further.  How do we do it??  How do we stop our oceans and beaches from turning into plastic?  Easy.  We reduce how much plastic we use.  We rethink our needs and realize that we can go without _______ because the convenience of today isn't worth the inconvenience of cleaning up the inevitable mess tomorrow.

20 minutes on March 20, 2012 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 1 lb 10.2 oz
Cigarette butts: 394

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 128 days:

42,518

Our Daily Ocean: Day 122

Today, was an absolutely gorgeous perfect day.  81˚ and nothing but blue skies.  I, of course, thought the beach would be completely packed, but when we got there the wind was blowing so strong that I questioned even getting out of my car.  81˚ temperatures tugged at me and we hit the beach at Access 43!  Since the wind was ripping across the sand, the beach appeared to be completely empty...

We immediately made a beeline to the dunes for some protection from the wind (and the sand that was ripping across the beach).  Obviously, that's what everyone else had decided to do!  The dunes provided enough buffer that the winds were hardly even noticeable.  While walking around the dunes, we found lots of very old plastics.... like a styrofoam take out container that began to crumble as soon as I touched it... and this plastic bottle cap that broke into pieces as soon as I grabbed it...

Every day, I strive to reduce the amount of plastics that I use.  I do so for a great number of reasons... one being I don't want to contribute to the ever growing problem of plastic pollution and well... quite frankly... it's just not safe.  Stiv Wilson wrote a really great article "7 Dangerous Lies About Plastic" that EVERYONE should read.

Interesting fact time!  In 122 days, doing 20 minute beach clean ups.... we've picked up 40,827 cigarette butts off of Wrightsville Beach.  That averages out to picking up nearly 17 cigarette butts every minute! YIKES!  Houston Wrightsville Beach: We have a problem.  The hearing for the proposed smoking ban on Wrightsville Beach is exactly a week away.  Please mark your calendars for March 8.  The meeting starts at 6 PM.... and we need everyone that supports our efforts to show up to the meeting.  We can do this TOGETHER!! :)

20 minutes on March 1, 2012 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 1 lb 4 oz
Cigarette butts: 432

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 122 days:

40,827

Our Daily Ocean: Day 115

There are some things that you just don't see when you look at beautiful pictures of the beach (or most photography for that matter).  Things are often cropped and cut out so that you only see what is beautiful.

I think about this fact a lot.... especially now that I've seen pictures of places... especially beaches that I once thought were pristine.

If anyone were to look at pictures of Wrightsville Beach on the internet (barring some of what I share, of course), they'd see a beautiful North Carolina Beach.  A place where families bring their children for a summer vacation, a place where surfers catch waves.... a place where amazing memories are created... a place of love.  All of that is Wrightsville Beach.  ....But Wrightsville Beach is also a place where we've picked up over 38,000 cigarette butts that had been put out in the WB sand.  It's a place where cigarette butts can be found in sandcastles and tide pools.  And, you obviously know that I have a problem with that.  I said from the beginning that I was going to help make Wrightsville Beach Smoke-Free... and I've committed myself to my community because I want to help make a difference.  BUT... here's the thing.  I can't do it alone.  I need YOUR help.  When we work TOGETHER to create change... anything is possible....

Support Smoke-Free Wrightsville Beach

Speaking of together and community... my awesome friend, Tracy, was a freaking rockstar beach sweeper last night!!  Seriously, she was digging through the wrack line finding all sorts of littered items from fishing lines with hooks to lots and lots of styrofoam (grr).  She even found this:

A cigarette filter that has a root... maybe a branch of some sort growing through it. We wonder how long it take for this to happen???  Hmmmm....

20 minutes on January 27, 2012 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 3 lbs 12.4 oz 
Cigarette butts: 217

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 115 days:

38,585

Our Daily Ocean: Day 93

Another day, another post Hurricane Irene beach clean up.  Yup... we've been out to Wrightsville Beach three days in a row!!!  Of course, my kids are still super excited about all of shells that are still lining the beach...

The past two posts I've mentioned how Hurricane Irene has completely reshaped the southend of the beach... so in an effort to really share how different the beach is... we went back to the far southend of Wrightsville Beach :)  Here's what the southend looked like (looking from Access 42 to 43) back in January on our 36th beach clean up:

This is what it looks like now...

While at the beach on Saturday, I talked to some people and most often I heard people say "this is just horrible" about the fact that so many of the sand dunes were gone.  While it does look a lot different without all the dunes... it is exactly how nature intended it to be.  I watched this great educational film entitled "North Carolina: The Beaches Are Moving" about barrier islands and how they are constantly changing... and how this change (even the drastic changes from a storm) is natural and good.  It's long, but it's definitely worth watching :)  By the way, if you didn't know... Wrightsville Beach is a barrier island!

I now interrupt this lesson on barrier islands to jump full on into a semi-rant about plastic caps!!!  On Friday, Susan with the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project picked up 122 plastic bottle caps.  On Saturday, Tracy and I picked up 92 bottle caps... Sunday, I picked up 25... AND now (on Monday evening), I along with Michelle-- another beach sweeper!!-- picked up 115 plastic bottle caps!!!

Ok, so maybe you're wondering where all the bottles are that go with those caps??  Hmmm... not sure what happened to the bottles... but I have an idea about WHY there are so many freaking bottle caps.  The story I make up goes a bit like this:  Beachgoer takes cap off of plastic-- water/soda/gatorade/Vitamin-Water-- bottle... cap isn't attached in any way so it easily gets lost... and one way or another gets buried in the sand.  THEN... one day a big storm comes and moves all the sand... and VOILA! the mess that was once buried is now uncovered for us to see...

So... maybe this wasn't as big of a rant as I thought was going to come spewing out... but here's the deal. Maybe you no longer drink bottled water... rock on! That's awesome.  How about rethinking all of the drinks that come in plastic bottles with plastic lids??  Gatorade, sodas, flavored waters... little by little stop purchasing them and start filling a reusable beverage bottle instead.  Do it so our beaches stay being made of sand... do it so we find shells and not plastic... do it to save wildlife... whatever it is... find a reason and go with it. (please)

20 minutes on August 29, 2011 at Access 43

Litter by weight: 3 lbs 12.1 oz
Cigarette butts: 182

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 93 days:

28,207